The agenda for tonight’s North Judson-San Pierre School Board meeting includes passage of the necessary resolution to move money around to close the books on the fiscal year budget. Superintendent Lynn Johnson previously said at least $1 million in cuts would be necessary to end the year in the black. The source of those cuts is unclear at this time. Continue reading
N.J.-S.P. Board Begins Superintendent Search
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will discuss the search for an interim superintendent during an executive session meeting this evening. Continue reading
N.J.-S.P. Board Calls Special Meeting to Fix Contract Language
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will meet in a brief special session tonight to make a technical correction to the recently approved teacher contract. Continue reading
N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Responds to ISTEP Delay
The school year will be half over before corporations know how their students fared on last year’s ISTEP tests. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the state has pushed back the release of the scores to December due to issues with the grading of the exams. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Addresses School Funding Rumors
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials are eying a local property tax hike to cover operating expenses. A combination of state funding cuts and declining enrollment have cost the corporation a significant amount of money. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says they are not planning to consolidate.
“This is North Judson-San Pierre. It needs to stay North Judson-San Pierre. We’re not going to be absorbed into Knox. That is not true,” Johnson said. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Officials Propose School Funding Referendum
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials will ask voters to approve a property tax referendum this fall to help fund day-to-day school operations. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says a combination of declining enrollment and state budget cuts have forced the corporation to cut $2.5 million since 2010. She stresses there are no plans to close schools or consolidate with another corporation, despite rumors to the contrary. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Officials to Discuss Budget Cuts, Funding Challenges Tonight
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board is looking at painful budget cuts to close the books on the current year and make ends meet next year. Superintendent Lynn Johnson and other officials will explain those in detail during a “fight for public education” forum tonight at the high school auditorium. Johnson says declining enrollment means N.J.-S.P. will not benefit from additional money in the new state budget. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Students Stage Sit-In
Students at North Judson-San Pierre High School staged a sit-in today to protest the school’s decision to move the band to the auditorium and turn the music suite into a weight room. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says in a letter to choral and band parents “the intention is not to devalue music.” She says the existing second floor weight room behind the bleachers is no longer structurally sound and must be located on the ground level. Johnson adds major renovations are not possible at this time due to financial concerns.
Her letter explains physical education is a required course of study for high school students, and the curriculum includes physical conditioning. Johnson says “this means all high school students use the weight room, not just athletes”.
N.J.-S.P. Business Manager Outlines Financial Challenges
A combination of steady declines in enrollment, changes in public education funding and additional unfunded mandates are taking a toll on the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation. Business manager Guy Richie says the state changed the way public schools are funded in 2008. Instead of basing funds on local property taxes, money now follows the child.
That means when children move away, so does the tuition support. Richie says it’s never in such a way though that the corporation can eliminate one staff member and make up the difference. Instead the enrollment declines are scattered, which makes cutting expenses more challenging. Continue reading
Pence Education Agenda Draws Mixed Reviews
Gov. Mike Pence’s education agenda for the upcoming legislative session draws mixed reviews from a local school administrator who is looking to the General Assembly for meaningful reform. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson agrees with some of the things the governor is suggesting, such as accountability that takes into account student growth.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has lost millions of dollars due over the past several years due to a combination of state funding cuts, declining enrollment and unfunded mandates. During a Tuesday night public forum, Johnson said the legislature needs to increase the amount of money it pays corporations per enrolled student. That’s also among the items on Pence’s agenda. Continue reading
N.J-S.P. Board Approves Student and Staff Wellness Policy
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board approved the final reading of the wellness policy on Tuesday evening. It incorporates federal guidelines into the school’s cafeteria food, vending machines and physical activity practices. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says physical activity is an important part of the school day.
Public Balanced Calendar Presentation Scheduled Tonight at Culver
Several area school corporations are considering the adoption of a balanced school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. The Rochester Community School Corporation already has one in place. Officials from that corporation will present information during a community meeting this evening at 6 p.m. EDT at Culver Community High School. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the proposed schedule would still provide the state-mandated 180 instructional days with more breaks during the school year. Summer vacation would be eight weeks instead of 10 due to the proposed earlier start of school. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Celebrates Improved Test Scores
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The effort teachers at North Judson-San Pierre schools have put into preparing students to take ISTEP tests is paying off. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says test scores from 2009 to 2014 reflect steady gains. Math scores have gone from 62-percent proficiency in 2009 to 81 percent in 2014 for grades 3 through 8. During that same time period English/Language Arts scores have improved from 66 to 77 percent. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Board Approves Updated Test Security Protocol
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The standardized tests given to North Judson-San Pierre students are locked in a room that cannot be accessed by anyone else during the school day. That is one of the 17 state-mandated safety protocols the corporation is required to follow to ensure the integrity of the tests they administer. The school board this week approved an amended test security policy. Continue reading
North Judson School Photos Find New Home
The class composite and group photos of North Judson and North Judson-San Pierre High School graduates will soon have a new home. They were recently displaced from Grand Central Station in downtown North Judson after a church took over that space. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson told the school board this week those photos will be on display at the new North Judson Town Hall when it opens later this year. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Schools Brace for More Budget Cuts
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials are bracing for more budget cuts. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says enrollment is down 40 students from last year.
“We have made a lot of cuts already, but obviously we need to make more and look at future plans,” Johnson told the school board Tuesday night. “One of the major expenditures we have is special education, which keeps growing and growing and growing. I would say we probably spend $1 million a year on special education.” Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Student Dies
The North Judson-San Pierre student body is experiencing the loss of one of their own today. Superintendent Lynn Johnson made the announcement today (Thursday) at Noon.
“We are very saddened by the death of one of our students,” said Mrs. Johnson. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and their loss. Right now, our focus is assisting our students, staff and families during this difficult time.”
The school is not releasing the name of the student and an investigation into the student’s death is being conducted by the Starke County Coroner and the Indiana State Police.
Funeral arrangements are pending with the O’Donnell Funeral Home in North Judson.
North Judson Town Board Discusses Five-Member Transition
The North Judson Town Board received an update regarding the transition from a three-member board to a five-member board this week. A public meeting regarding the possibility has been scheduled for Thursday, April 12th at 5:00 p.m. CT. The meeting, which will likely take place at the Civic Center, will feature a representative from the Indiana Association of Clerk-Treasurers, and will give an idea of what requirements must be met in order to make the transition.
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation Reviewing New Budget Figures
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has received new paperwork concerning the budget.
“We’re still kind of looking through that information. The proposal is for a large cut, but it’s not as bad as we thought,” said Superintendent Lynn Johnson. “We’re still waiting for specifics with the Full-Day Kindergarten funding and hopefully that will help out the budget too. The cuts weren’t quite as deep as we thought. They’re still considerable, but we’re working hard at managing those. The original proposal was $1.2 million. I’m really not quite sure how it’s going, we’re just starting to work on that. It’s less than a million, but still a significant cut.”
